Six French aid workers accused of trying to kidnap 103 children go on trial in Chad today.
The French citizens, members of a humanitarian group called Zoe's Ark, were arrested in late October as they tried to fly the children, aged one-10, out of eastern Chad to Europe.
President Idriss Deby's government said they had no authorisation to take the infants out of the country. The six French deny the kidnapping and fraud charges against them, and they have been on hunger strike, refusing food but drinking water.
If convicted, they could face forced labour sentences, but many believe they will be allowed to serve jail terms in France under bilateral accords or benefit from a pardon from Mr Deby.
Many Chadians resent what they see as foreign meddling in the case, in which French President Nicolas Sarkozy has taken a personal interest.
Mr Sarkozy travelled to N'Djamena last month to secure the release of seven other foreigners and held talks with Deby on the Zoe's Ark case at an EU-Africa summit last month.
Three Chadians and a Sudanese national will also stand trial.